Hi all, Has any date been set for the AMSAT-DC meeting this spring? I did not see anything on their web site. 73 de Doug KA8QCU

It was in the latest ANS bulletin:

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-074.04 AMSAT-DC Spring Workshop April 25

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 074.04

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.

March 15, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-074.04

AMSAT-DC Area Coordinator Pat Kilroy, N8PK reports on plans for the AMSAT-DC Workshop to be held on Saturday, April 25, at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

A small "simulated satellite" kit will be built, tested and operated by individuals attending. The completed kit, soon to be widely known as a PICetSat II module, is a simple remote sensing unit that serves as an expendable high-altitude small balloon payload. It transmits downlink telemetry on the 70 cm Amateur Radio band.

Other attendees will provide and configure radios, computers and software needed to receive, decode and analyze the PICetSat II telemetry.

Pat says, "The format of this year's workshop is an experiment unto itself for the few AMSAT-DC subgroup of members who are attempting to organize such an event for the first time."

He adds, "This workshop may prove to be a fine training opportunity for one to learn the basics of the design, construction, testing, calibrating and operating an earth-orbiting satellite. All of this in one long Saturday of fun!"

The planning sessions are being held each Thursday evening via a toll-free telephone conference. If you wish to help organize or execute the workshop then contact Pat by e-mail for the details of connecting with the group on the telecon at Patrick.L.Kilroy@nasa.gov as soon as possible.

The cost of each kit will be determined soon, along with the admission structure. For example, being evaluated is $90 for a kit plus AMSAT membership if one doesn't already have it. The details of the registration process, workshop procedures and the associated costs are to follow in a later bulletin and on the AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-DC web pages.

[ANS thanks Pat Kilroy, N8PK for the above information]

/EX

73, Drew KO4MA